Welcome break for Wolves boss

01 March 2010 05:40

The Wolves boss has parted with 14 members of his squad this week as international action returns to the fore.

While most managers are reluctant to see their most prized assets head off for friendly duty, with injuries a constant threat, McCarthy has no such concerns.

With Wolves still stuck in the midst of a Premier League relegation battle, he feels a break from the stresses of domestic endeavour will help to clear the mind and realign focus ahead of a crunch clash with title-chasing Manchester United on Saturday.

"It was always going to be a big job to survive even when we started 27 games ago in August, and it remains a big job," McCarthy told the club's official website.

"We're still out of the bottom three and we're still playing well but that can be difficult when you're playing well and not getting anything - it can be demoralising.

"A lot of them are away now for internationals but maybe that will be a sort of break and they'll come back feeling mentally refreshed.

"Perhaps not physically, because they'll be playing, but mentally it might help to go to a different environment for a few days.

"Then we've got Manchester United at our place and that's no foregone conclusion."